Hummingbirds & the Cold

I've been worried a bit about the cold weather & what it might do to my little hummingbirds. I had three up at the house tonight... it's getting dark and one is at the feeder right now. Usually they're long gone by 8:30 at night.

About half an hour ago I noticed one laying on the deck. There were two others dive bombing him (or her, I couldn't tell). I had the idea they were trying to get it to move, to revive it, but who knows maybe they were in attack mode.

I wasn't quite sure what to do, thought maybe I'd give it a rag to move into? Doesn't matter, I opened the door and it flew off. I suppose if it's on its last leg then tonight's cold weather will finish the job.

Here's a site if you want to find out more about the affects of cold weather on hummingbirds: http://www.hummingbirds.net/coldsnap.html These guys survived the freezing temps, hope they hang in there through this latest cold weather.

I was in the studio most of today, didn't see any of the ones that hang out down there. Could be I just missed them, I was concentrating on getting some work finished. I have another kiln load ready to go just as soon as today's creations dry sufficiently for me to fire. I'll be concentrating on glazing for the next couple of weeks. New colors to try! Can't wait.

Hummingbirds are back!

I was late putting out the hummingbird feeders... they were fussing at me. I put a couple of feeders on the porch, then put up all the feeders around the studio. They depleted the feeders around the studio in no time. It took them a few days to stop pouting and come to the feeders on the porch.

Now I have two hummingbirds coming regularly to the porch feeders, and two or three coming to the ones around the studio.

My favorite is the little feeder I hang inside the window bird-feeder I have. I know I've mentioned the bird feeder before? My son & daughter-in-law gave it to me for Christmas a few years ago (bought it at Wild Birds Unlimited in Peachtree City). It protrudes into the room and has a mirrored film so I can watch the birds eat up-close.

I've been able to be two inches away from the little hummingbirds as they feed. There are two hooks inside the feeder to hang the smaller feeders (97 cents at Wal-Mart).

The world just gets a little perkier & is a bit brighter when the hummingbirds are back. I'm watching the feeders on the porch as I write this. A bird just came up & perched on the feeder. My mom has birds that drink from her hummingbird feeders. Thus far the birds around here haven't figured out how to do get their beaks into the tiny holes. I'll try to take some photos when the sun comes out in a few days (rainy week ahead of us).